Enjoy the folk tales hidden in
the heart of Bundelkhand and surrender to folk music ...

Overview

Pamper yourself with a visit to the Amraee Guest House in Pranpur, Madhya Pradesh. Located in Central India's Bundelkhand region, the village guest house is about 3 km from Chanderi, famous for its silks.

Visit the village and let the rhythm of the looms create magic for your eyes and ears while you interact with weavers and design your own drape. The more adventurous could try their hand at weaving. Watch village life or visit the historic city of Chanderi while its past is unravelled brick by brick. Enjoy the folk tales hidden in the heart of Bundelkhand and surrender to folk music and lively dances of another India! Amraee will rejuvenate you with its earthiness and historic charm.

What we've planned for you...

Choose a mix of crafts, nature and history. The people of Pranpur are engaged in weaving Chanderi silk, pottery, metal work, stone carving and 'beedi' rolling. You can tour Pranpur with a local guide who will acquaint you with the craftspeople. You can interact with them and their families and learn about life in the village, education, economy and anything you want to know about. One can always learn from them so don’t be shy to ask for your turn at the loom or the wheel as most of them are keen to share their knowledge, sometimes for a small price. The experience, however, is priceless. The guest house also organises Raee and Sehra dance shows for guests who are interested in Bundelkhandi folk tradition.

Amraee Guest House is set in the middle of a mango orchard and it abounds in colourful butterflies and birds. Step out for a trek along the seasonal river Babhutia into the forest nearby or just climb the hillocks around for a better view of Pranpur. Your local guide will tell you many fascinating stories and interesting facts on the way. For instance, did you know the adivasis in the area use the root of a shrub to stun fish and make them easier prey? Or that a drongo which sits on the horn of cattle on its very first flight can cause the animal’s horn to fall off? In the rainy season, the forest trek will take you through knee-deep rivers and waterfalls. The sunrise at Rajghat Dam about 20 mins away and the sunset at Chanderi Fort about 3 km away are also worth seeing. Or just sit in the backyard and listen to Babduda’s ballads – slowly the rhythm takes over and language is no longer a barrier.

The manager of the guest house has a set of books and comics about the region as well as local games that can keep you entertained for hours. Just ask him.

Chanderi is believed to have been set up by Vakradanta, the father of King Sisupal (King of Chedi who was killed by Lord Krishna). Chanderi is mentioned in the Mahabharata as Chedi, counted among the sixteen kingdoms that India was divided into in ancient times. Visible signs of its historic past can be found in cave paintings dating back to the upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Ages. These are on the banks of the Or and Urvashi rivers off Nanon village, 30 km from Pranpur. Several 8th to 12th century monasteries were built in Nagar style at Kadvaya (2 hour drive from Pranpur). Forts and palaces in Chanderi stand testimony to its tryst with history. Also among the 'must sees' are The Koshak Mahal, Jageshwari Temple, the Jama Masjid, the Raja Rani Mahal and of course, the symbol of Chanderi, the Badal Mahal.

Chanderi is a city of 'baolis' or step wells built by the Sultans. There are at least 500 'baolis' across Chanderi, dating back to several centuries. The Mughal Emperor Babur is said to have laid siege to Chanderi in 1528, an event during which thousands of trapped troops of Raja Medini Rai committed mass suicide. Their wives committed jauhar in the fort in one of the largest community suicides in Indian history. The ASI museum at Chanderi offers a peek into sculptures that have been recovered from the 8th to 11th century such as those in the Jain sites of Budhi Chanderi and Thoban.

When...

Once the rains start in July, the area begins to cool off. From August the festivals begin and it is a mass of colour, music and dance all around. The best weather is from November to February when it becomes cold and the bonfires burn bright.

Tongue Teasers…

The restaurant at Amraee Guest House has been decorated with paintings and folk art by Amraee’s manager, Rajpal. Here, Jagbhan weaves magic with his parathas and exotic chutneys. You can order from their simple vegetarian fare or opt for their special Bundelkhandi Thali. The tea is made in typical local style - milky and sweet. However, the cheerful Jaghban is ever-eager to alter it to suit your palate. And of course, he does know how to make a strong coffee!

Bunk in...

The Amraee Guest House is set in a five-acre mango orchard. The four rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable. They all have western style bathrooms attached. Since power-cuts are the norm in the area, solar lanterns are provided in each room.

The guest house derives its name from its surroundings. Amraee means a mango orchard. It also is a creative conjunction of Aam (mango) and Raee (a local dance form).

Bunk in...

The Amraee Guest House is set in a five-acre mango orchard. The four rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable. They all have western style bathrooms attached. Since power-cuts are the norm in the area, solar lanterns are provided in each room.

The guest house derives its name from its surroundings. Amraee means a mango orchard. It also is a creative conjunction of Aam (mango) and Raee (a local dance form).

How to get there?
The nearest airport is Bhopal (232 km) – there is a taxi stand by Akbar Travels who provide a reliable taxi service. The nearest railway station is Lalitpur about 35 km from Pranpur. There are several trains to Lalitpur from Delhi and Mumbai that leave through the day and a few to other major stations such as Jhansi (110 km) and Mungawli (40 km) in Madhya Pradesh. From Lalitpur, buses to Chanderi can drop you off at Pranpur. A pick-up can be organised on request.

The Amraee Guest House was set up as part of a UNDP and Government of India project to promote rural tourism. It was inaugurated in 2008. The Pranpur Village Tourism Development Committee maintains and runs the guest house. Its main aim is to promote the weavers, potters and metal workers while developing the village as a tourist site. You can directly interact with the local craftspeople and buy products from them, ensuring maximum revenue to them and recognition of their skills. You can also learn about Bundelkhandi folk art, music and dance.

How Much?

Single Occupancy ₹ 1500
Double Occupancy ₹ 2200

* Prices valid up to 30th September 2016

Extra bed policy & pricing - Adult ₹ 700/-, Children in the age group of 0 to 5 - free

We can help you to customise your itinerary if you are visiting Khajurajo, Orchha, Jhansi, Shivpuri or Bhopal

Price includes:

Stay and meals at Amraee Guest House

All taxes

Price excludes:
Entrance fees, camera fees, video fees at monuments

Bottled water, soft drinks

Anything not specifically mentioned in inclusions above

If a driver is staying overnight, a flat fee of ₹ 500 will be charged to cover his food and stay expenses.

Payment Policy – 100% payment to confirm the booking at least one week before arrival

Cancellation policy - 7 days: full refund, more than 72 hrs and less than 7 days - 50% refund, less than 72 hrs - none

Alcohol is not served and consumption is not allowed on the guest house premises.

Pranpur and Chanderi were the highlights too. It was very interesting to watch the rural life in Pranpur, and it was overwhelming to see Chanderi so rich with historic monuments! And Khalley-bhai! Such a well-informed guide, witty and with so much passion for his homeland, his profession and his clients! Outstanding!

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One minor suggestion: It was difficult to communicate with the people in Amraee guest house, because there was almost nobody who speaks English. So maybe it could be helpful to prepare a little kind of dictionary - for the guests as well as for the staff - with some crucial phrases like: "Breakfast will be at 8.30" - "Driver will wait for you at 9.00" ;-)

Frank and Vera HaneyJena, Germany

March 15th, 2015Travelled in India in February 2015

"Our stay at the Amraee guest house was pleasant. Hopefully we will stay there during future travel to Chanderi. The guest house staff were very courteous and prepared simple yet delicious vegetarian meals for us. We look forward to seeing them again. Kallebhai acted as a friendly knowledgeable guide.

My thanks to you for your prompt response and assistance in making our stay possible."

Nimai GhoseJanuary 2015Delhi

"We are back after our holiday in Pranpur. We enjoyed good time and hospitality at Amraee.

The food was excellent and the service was courteous with Rajpal and team. Sightseeing in Chanderi and village trail of Pranpur also was very well arranged and could get close to the village life and people at Pranpur. Weather was cold and staff mentioned that it was very unusual this period to be so cold. We could get a heater from second day and hence was useful. We purchased dress material and artecrafts directly from the village folks."

K M PrabhuBangaloreDecember 2014

"Pranpur – good village tours with local resident working at the Amraee guesthouse – no English but we had a pretty effective interpreter in Idrees, our driver.

The arts and crafts too were fascinating and we managed to get to see a lot of home looming in Pranpur and Chanderi as well as more commercial scale weaving at the Rehwa Society set up in Maheshwar. In addition we saw a lot of other home craft activity such as pot making, beedi rolling, brasswork etc in Pranpur where people were very hospitable. We were able to make some very pleasing purchases along the way.

We were impressed by Amraee Guest House in Pranpur in which we were outstandingly well looked after. The food was delicious and the accommodation and service spot on."

Angus and Jennifer FrazerNovember 2014UK

"In February 2013, we stayed in Amraee Guest house in Pranpur, for 2 nights. It was really a good stay (delicious vegetarian food, simple but nice rooms, friendly staff). It was our second stay (we found this place in February 2012 by chance when we visited Chanderi). Like we don't see everything, in part because we stay an half day visiting Pranpur (weavers, metal workers, potters ...) we decided to come again in Chanderi and of course, we choose Amraee which is only 3 kilometre (away). Chanderi and Pranpur are very interesting places for tourism (historical buildings, stepwells, weavers, potters ...) I'm sure to come again and maybe I'll stay longer, in a place out of the beaten trail."

Christine CornumentFebruary 2013France

“We - two Russian women were there last winter in January for three days and a half. And I can tell you sincerely that it was the best part of our trip. We met great, friendly, real people; we spoke with them although my Hindi is not good; we felt like we were at home.

At first time for two weeks we lived in excellently clean room, had hot water when we wanted, didn't lock our door every time when we were going away, cause we trusted people around us. We didn't think about where to eat where to go what to do - everything was made excellently like we wanted.

We had great great guide who showed and told us everything and even more. We woke up in the morning hearing the birds songs, it felt fantastic after noise of Indian cities :))) The food was great - the best for all our trip. I even managed to paint a bit, sitting in the garden:))

Everybody wanted us to feel comfortable, and in the same moment nobody behaved like we were aliens - I felt like I'm in my mum's village after long long way. At last, we had good rest before visiting the most "cruel" for tourists cities - Delhi and Agra.

I wish Amraee Guest House, it's manager, our guides, our cook and all the craftsman the best, hope this project will grow!

- PolinaJanuary 2013Russia

"I loved the team at Amraee. Everyone in the team was very welcoming and hospitable. Both the members managed the everyday chores with utmost efficiency. I am sure, the simplicity with which everyone approaches the new entrants to Amraee, none can remain untouched by it. We spent one night talking with everyone about the history of the place and the contemporary issues and struggles of the region. I had some idea about Jhansi and that area but for me, it was a great insight to learn about the life and livelihoods in Lalitpur/ Chanderi area.

Another biggest highlight was the food. I think, the food was an 'epicurean's delight'! And I had a 'thali licking' food all the days of our stay. One night we just relaxed sleeping under the mango tree, observing the crow couple and I think for me, that was the most beautiful moment, just sleep beneath open sky!

I had a fantastic time for sure."

Shruti UpadhyaySeptember 2012New Delhi

"At the outset, I congratulate you for the initiative. We visited Amraee in April 2012 but we still cherish the memories. It has been a wonderful experience. The rooms are very tastefully done and give the feeling of staying in the lap of nature. The food, served in traditional style, was very delicious. The resort manager was very helpful and made our stay really comfortable. He even arranged the traditional dance for us at a very short notice. The first-hand experience of living in a village was really awesome. My daughter still reminisces about the bullock-cart ride. We came back truly refreshed. We have recommended the resort to our friends and family also and we definitely plan to revisit."

Sandeep DharkarApril 2012New Delhi

"Had a nice trip - enjoyed the food particularly. I will be back to Chanderi and Amraee."

Avijit and Monica August 2012New Delhi

"Its been a week today since we left Amraee, but I still feel the pure ambience and the warmth of its people. The entire trip,esp. our stay at Amraee, interacting Mr.Rajpal, Sakulal, Jagmohan and others, enjoying simple village style food made with love, spending time in the village, meeting craftspeople and talking with them, smiling children and adults happily posing for my camera....and much much more made our trip so memorable.

I commend your initiative on rural tourism and wish to come to Pranpur again and again.

Thanks so much for an astonishing, yet simple, time at Pranpur! My whole family is absolutely in love with the place and its people. My children, who were always hooked on to TV, never mentioned it in our entire stay :-)

I am indebted to Shishir (from Black Swan) to have recommended this holiday experience to us.

Above all, the warm hospitality of the people in the resort and the village is something that urban people can’t possibly come across in cities. Each home and person that we met was very open to sharing and welcoming strangers. We even enjoyed a home-cooked meal at one village home. The taste is very earthy and brims with love. A memorable experience for me was the long interaction I had with the government school headmaster and teachers to understand their perspective on education. My daughters enjoyed the short pottery sessions, and want to continue exploring more in the art form."

Anirudh PhadkeFebruary 2012Indore

"I have stayed there for 4 nights with my husband and my 2 years old son. I wanted to visit unknown part of India and choose this region.

The room was simple and clean for country side guest house. We slept well. They used the Chanderi saree for their curtains. Most of the staffs in this guest house are artists. Manager is painter. You can see his art all over the hotel. Also others are weavers, potter etc.

This hotel does not have so many foreign tourists in the past. So staffs are very simple and not rude, like asking tips etc. (not like Agra, Jaipur, etc.) They just welcome us and smile. Always very helpful and kind. Their English is not good at all, but they really try hard and do their best. I think it should not be a big problem. If you are really stuck, you can ask Kalley bhai to help. He was again really helpful and sweet person. He is Chanderi official guide. He is very honest and hard working. His knowledge is really amazing."

TomomiFebruary 2012Japan

"Sitting on a charpoy in the middle of a mango orchard, listening to Babu Ram relate the Dhol-Maru narrative around a bonfire is an experience of a lifetime. The youngsters from Pranpur were amused that somebody would be interested in an epic they have heard several times in their lives. Thankfully, that did not take away from Babu Ram’s enthusiasm.

The thrill of trying my hand at the loom, of watching Bhaiyya Dada create a pot out of a lump of clay and listening to the women in Babu Ram’s family sing folk songs will stay with me for a long time. The forest trek with Jagbhan acquainted me with more plants and birds than all my biology classes!

And nothing can compare with the feeling of standing in a cave in which, millions of years ago, people from the Neolithic age must have stood and drawn stick figures.

Little Rubina, who helped me climb down a hill I climbed in careless bravado, and Lala Ram’s, son who kept crawling around me trying to get me interested in the jalebi he was eating — Pranpur was an experience in connecting with an India very different from the one where I live and one that spans across several aeons."